Favorite Things For Fall 2020

Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”

-Nora Ephron, “You’ve Got Mail”

As I write this, it’s 81 degrees at 5:46p here in Reno, with a forecasted high of 96 this coming weekend. It certainly doesn’t FEEL like fall but boy am I ready for it.

Let’s pretend the leaves are turning, the mornings are chilly and get cozy with my 10 favorite things for Fall 2020. This year’s list isn’t trendy or earth shattering. It’s familiar and warm and comforting, with some old favorites and new favorites that feel old. Just what the doctor ordered.

Ready? Let’s dive in!

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Ice Cream

Less sweet than a Pumpkin Spice Latte, and perfect for still warm end of summer / early fall days. To me, ice cream should be CREAMY and this one doesn’t disappoint. Even just a small scoop hits the spot although throwing it into a blender with some milk turns out a pretty darn good milkshake. Look for it under Trader Joe’s “Pilgrim Joe’s” store brand and stock up as it only comes once a year.

Wood Wick Candles

I was first introduced to wood wick candles when Stephen bought me one last year and now I’m sold. Since the wicks are wooden, they actually crackle when lit. It’s like having a tiny crackling fireplace right on your desk. Mine is the White Pine + Hemlock from Paddywax which we just got at Whole Foods. I usually don’t love pine scents (except for you know, actual pine trees) but turns out I love this one in the fall and winter.

Wood Fire Candle Company in Duluth, MN has a huge selection of wood wick candles and I love that they use soy wax and essential oils. Some perfect scents for fall include “Big Boat Oatmeal Stout”, “Campfire”, “Coffee Haus” and “Cozy Cabin”. I feel like I am cozied up under a wool blanket in a Tahoe cabin just writing this!

Fall Playlists

Nothing sets the mood better and easier than music, am I right?? I have been loving playlists lately and here’s my secret: I find people who have a similar taste in music and search their lists on Spotify by genre, season or mood. Here are a few I’ve been enjoying this fall:

• Kendra Adachi. We loved Kendra’s Christmas playlists last year and her “Fallish” playlist is also a winner. It sets the perfect folksy, relaxing vibe.
• Tsh Oxenreider. Tsh is a MASTER playlister! Her playlists include holidays, back to school, instrumental, and tons more. Her Fall 2020 playlist is here and it’s been on repeat for weeks already over here.
• French Cooking Playlist. Perfect with a glass of Pinot Noir while you’re whipping up a gorgeous Beef Bourguignon (or heating up a box of tomato soup, let’s be honest).

If you want to tackle creating your own playlist, Kendra has a great tutorial for beginners here.

Paint By Number Kits

Perfect for ALL THE NIGHTS at home with family this year, paint by number kits have recently gained in popularity this year and for good reason. I can feel my stress drain away when I engage all my senses in a hands on project like knitting or painting. Trouble is, I don’t actually know how to knit and my painting skills are rudimentary, at best. Enter Paint By Number Kits. These kits help you to create a truly beautiful piece of art on canvas that you’ll actually want to frame and hang in your home.

The above piece is the one I ordered for this fall, “Odette At Swan Lake”. It’s from the beautiful collection at elle crée (French for “she creates”) I love that these were created by a Northwest artist, Rachel Austen, from Portland, OR, just across the river from my old hometown of Vancouver, WA.

Fall Hikes

If it feels like I am always talking about getting outside, it’s because it’s true. I am. I guess even though I have always been drawn to nature, during this year of Covid-19, time outside has been bringing such a needed sense of calm and restoration. Even 20 minutes watering the garden is good for mental health. If more time allows, a walk or hike, especially near water, helps works out the kinks of the week. Now that the baby is walking, it’s even easier to get out there and the boys love finding random sticks, rocks and other treasures. Saying hello to all the passing puppies is a huge bonus.

Check out the app “All Trails” for local trail maps and get out there (even if it’s just a drive to check out your local fall color)!

Red & Honey’s Perfect Chili

I have tried SO MANY CHILI RECIPES over the years and Beth’s Perfect Chili has proven to be the winner. Somehow the combination of basic ingredients you generally have on hand come together in a magical way. It’s smoky with a little heat but not too spicy for the kids. Served with cheese, avocado, sour cream and skillet cornbread, it’s perfectly warming on a cold fall night.

Confession: My inner 12 year old ADORES chili-mac into which this chili is usually made the next day!

Reading The Classics

There is something comforting about reading classic works of literature that have stood the test of time. As we are confronted with constant change and upheaval, I find myself turning to well worn reads like “Pride and Prejudice” and “Jane Eyre”. Leland Ryken writes, “Another virtue of the classics is that at the level of content they do greater justice to the richness and multiplicity of human experience than lesser forms of literature do.” I have certainly found this to be true.

Maybe your kids have been assigned some classic literature on their reading lists this year? Reading a classic out loud as a family could be a fun fall tradition (especially if accompanied by warm caramel corn).

As a bonus, most of the classics are available free through a number of places like Project Gutenberg and Amazon’s Kindle.

Essential Oil Roll-Ons

For those dyed in the wool “oilers”, fall is the perfect time to stock up on germ busting, immune boosting essential oils. Or maybe you just prefer natural fragrance over synthetic. Either way, oils in roll-on form are super convenient because they are already diluted and mess free.

One of my favorite brands, Plant Therapy, has a great “KidSafe” line of roll-ons including “Immune Boom” and “Germ Destroyer“. For an afternoon energy boost, try CAMPO’s Energy Blend.

In this busy season of life, I am loving the convenience of pre-blended roll-ons but it’s both easy and more frugal to customize blends for yourself and place in rollers easily purchased on Amazon or Mountain Rose Herbs.

Good Earth Sweet & Spicy Tea

Good Earth’s Sweet & Spicy Tea has been my hands down favorite for years. This rooibos tea blended with cinnamon, orange, lemongrass and ginger really shines in the fall. The complex flavor doesn’t need any sweetener and since it’s caffeine free, it’s perfect for a cozy evening drink. My kids even love it!

MarketSpice Cinnamon-Orange Tea (from the famous Pike Place Market in Seattle) is another favorite with a similar sweet – spicy flavor profile.

Weleda Skin Food Lip Butter

This is a new favorite and my lips couldn’t be happier with it! It’s a struggle to find anything that provides long lasting relief for my dry lips and so I was thrilled to discover this lip butter. Made with calendula, chamomile and sunflower seed oil, it is richly hydrating and lasts for hours. Highly recommended going into fall and winter!

Well there you have it! I am so curious what your fall favorites are! Share with us in the comments below!

Sending love this week friends,

Alicia